Telephone handset switch



May 28, 1935. G. A. GRAHAM El AL 2,002,504

TELEPHONE HANDSET SWITCH Filed Sept. 26, 1952 65 p 5 0. ZZPPEA? 47- roam/e ya Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE HANDSET SWITCH George A. Graham and George 0. Tapper, Fort Monmouth, Oceanport, N. J.

Application September 26, 1932, Serial No. 634,914

8 Claims. (Cl. 179-103) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, M28; 370 Q. G. V57) The invention described herein may be manu receiver circuit at another time by a considered factured and used by or for the Government for manipulation of the external switching element. governmental purposes, without the payment to Certain embodiments of the invention are illusus of any royalty thereon. trated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

This invention relates to telephone handset Fig. l is a front view in perspective of the 5 switches and proposes a switch assembly which switch mounted in a handset; may be mounted as a unit in the handle or grip Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 3-3 portion of any telephone instrument, and is parof Figticularly applicable to a set of that type where Fig. 3 is a perspective of the switch mounted the handle serves to carry the transmitter and in a handset and held in Ope a Position y 10 receiver as a unitary structure. the user;

An object or" the invention is to provide a switch Fig. 4 is a rear view of the switch assembly; which may be used as a transmitter battery sup- Figs. 5, 6, and '7 show modified forms of cam ply switch; also to control both the transmitter and contact springs.

5 circuit and the receiver circuit simultaneously. Referring to th d a a 1ements of the 157 A t r object is to provide a switch which switch mechanism are mounted on a base plate is adapted for use as a transmitter switch when l, to the end that the switch assembly may be operated in one direction, and as a receiver switch easily and q y incorporated into The instruwhen operated in the other direction, a mode ment as auni ry structure In the embodiment of operation particularlydesirable for train dishere disclosed byw y O -p a handle p 20 patching systems or the like. component 2, which carries both a transmitter .An important object is to provide a design which 3 and a receiver l, is formed with a hollow chamwill avoid undesired or accidental switching opber 5 moulded therein to reecive the assembled eration when the handset cord is wrapped around switch, which may be attached to the handle by the handle of the instrument. any suitable means such as screws 6. Necessary 25 Another object is to provide a conveniently opwiring may be introduced through channels I crable switch which may be held actuated by and 8 moulded or otherwise formed in the haneither the right or left hand of the user with dle portion and casing of the instrument. equal facility; and also may be manipulated in The switch proper comprises an external opervarious postures by using the thumb, the index ating element or actuating lever 9, operable with 30 finger, the second finger, or combination thereof, a cam element l0, these elements both being sethus obviating cramping and reducing fatigue cured for that purpose to a common cam shaft l l,

to a minimum. which shaft is journalled in a suitable bearing l2 Other purposes and objects of the invention in base plate l. E xteriorly of the base plate I, will appear as the description proceeds. projections 24 and 25 act as stops to limit the 35 Having regard to the various alternative ways movement of lever 9. Cooperating with cam 10, of employing a switching device in accordance contact springs are provided as at l4, l5, l6 and with the present invention, a design was sought IT. The contact springs are spaced and insuwhich would lend itself to manipulation by either lated from one another by means of insulating the right or left hand, and which would permit of material as at l8, and are held together by screws 40 instant switching action. Irrespective of whether I9. The whole spring assembly is then suitably it is desired to control one circuit at a time, or attached to base plate l. Rotation of the actutwo or more circuits, it is possible in a single ating lever 9 in either direction serves to control manipulation of the external switching element, the contact springs and various circuit closing to hold the switch in actuated position by a-natand circuit opening operations or pennutations 45 ural pressure of thumb or finger; and instant may be obtained, depending upon the shape of release of such pressure provides instant response the cam element It! and the arrangement of the of the circuit contacts, self-restoring action becontact springs, as will appear by reference to ing an important feature of the present inven- Figs. 4, 5, 6 and I. It should be noted that the i tion. Moreover, .a design in accordance with the pair of springs with which the cam co-acts func- 50 present invention in a telephone handset switch tion as return or restoring springs and on releasespecially lends itself either to local battery, or ing the lever 9, these springs return the cam and common battery usage. Such a design is adlever to normal. The cam element i0 is formed vantage'ous in cases where it is desired to control of insulating material; or is otherwise insulated the transmitter circuit at one time and the from the contact springs. Extensions of contact 5 springs provide terminals as at 20, 2| 22 and 23 for electrical connections which may be soldered thereto or in any suitable way. Obviously the contact springs may be assembled in various relations or combinations and made to function in diii'erent circuit arrangements, as may be desired. For use as a transmitter switch only (see Fig. 4) 2i and 22 may be soldered or secured together electrically, and 20 and 23 also may be soldered together. Then the circuit would be from battery (not shown) to 2| and 22 and from 20 and 23 to transmitter, and through transmitter and return to battery. Again terminals 20 and 2| may be used for the transmitter circuit, and 22 and 23 for the receiver circuit. Where it is desired that the lever 9 should operate in one direction to close contacts l6 and I1, and in the opposite direction to close contacts M and I5, it is only necessary to properly form the cam element Ill for such action, as depicted in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 6 and '7, difierent arrangements or combinations of the contact springs are suggested by way of example. In each case a double acting cam is shown, the arrangement in Fig. 6 being such that both sets of contacts are in open circuit position when the lever 9 is held actuated,

while.in Fig. 7 one set. of contacts are in circuit closing position and the other set in open circuit position when lever 9 is held actuated.

Projections or shoulders 24 and 25 (see Fig. 1) serve as limiting stopsin the movement of lever 9. These shoulders or equivalent elements may be formed in such a way that by taking advantage of the tensioning action of the group or groups of contact springs which co-act with cam I0, lever 9 may be held in actuated position by positive mechanical means, permitting the operator to withdraw manual pressure from lever 9 during periods of actual use, as shown in Fig. 6.

Changes and modifications are contemplated Within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:-

1. In combination with a telephone handset, including a transmitter, a receiver, and a hollow connecting handle; a switch assembly comprising in a unitary structure self-restoring spring con- .tact elements mounted within the handle; and means to effect the circuit controlling action of said elements in groups, said means comprising a cam co-acting with said spring elements; and a lever located to operate entirely clear of the surface of said handle and forming part of the switch assembly foractuating the cam, said lever being formed with a pair of oppositely extending finger grips to permit manipulation of said handset by either hand, and each of said grips providing a difierent selective control of the switching action.

2. In combination with a telephone handset, including a transmitter, a receiver, and a hollow connecting handle; a switch assembly comprising in a unitary structure self-restoring spring contact elements within the handle; means for effecting the circuit controlling action of said elements, .said means including a cam operablev against the spring tension of said elements; and a rotatable lever for actuating the cam, said lever being spaced to rotate entirely clear of the surface of the handle, and comprising oppositely extending finger grips to permit balanced operation by either hand against the reactive tension of the contact elements.

'3. In combination with a telephone handset,

including a transmitter, a receiver and a hollow carrying handle integral therewith; a switch assembly mountable as a unit, comprising spring contact elements housed within the handle; and means for controlling said elements selectively in groups, comprising a cam and a cam actuating lever mounted exteriorly of the handle and rotatable with the cam, said lever being provided with a pair of finger grips to permit manipulation by either hand and balancing of the switching action against the weight of said handset.

4. In combination with a portable telephone instrument, including a transmitter, a receiver, and a hollow carrying handle; a unitary switch assembly comprising a mounting plate; spring contact elements secured to said plate; a rotatable cam for controllingsaid elements a lever for actuating the cam, said lever being spaced to rotate clear of the surface of said handle throughout its operative range; and means for limiting the movement of said lever, comprising stops formed in said mounting plate and acting against the tension of said contact elements to retain the same in actuated position.

5. A portable telephone instrument provided with a hollow handle; a switch assembly mountable as a unit in said handle, including spring contact elements and a cam for operating said elements 5.2.1). exteriorly mounted lever having oppositely. disposed finger grips for actuating the cam, said lever being spaced to operate clear of the handle and being rotatable in either direction and said grips permitting single-handed and reversible manipulation of the instrument and selective switching action by either hand.

6. In combination with a portable telephone instrument, including a transmitter, a receiver, and a hollow connecting handle; a switch assembly mountable as a unit in said handle, comprising a mounting plate, multiple spring contact elements secured to said plate; a rotatable cam for controlling said elements; means for actuating the cam comprising an exteriorly mounted lever having oppositely extending finger grips; and means for limiting the swing of said lever, comprising stops formed in said mounting plate, said stops being located out of the path of movement of said grips and cooperating with said lever when acting against the tension of said contact elements to retain the lever in actuated position.

7.'In combination with a portable telephone instrument, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a hollow connecting handle; a switch assembly mounted as a unit in said handle, including a mounting plate; multiple spring contact elements secured to said plate; means responsive to an initial stage of manipulation to provide single-handed reversible control of the switching action of the contact elements, comprising a double acting cam and a double grip lever operative with said cam to balance the weight of the instrument against the self-restoring action oi.

the contact elements, said lever being positioned to clear the surface of the handle throughout its trolling the switching action of said elements; stops formed in said plate adjacent the lever means comprising a rotatable lever to actuate bearings for limiting the throw of the lever and the cam, said lever being spaced to clear the surfor retaining the lever in locked position as the face of said handle and having oppositely exresult of a further manipulation of the lever 5 tending finger grips to permit single handed against the reactive tension of the spring contact 5 manipulation and balancing of the switching acelements. tion of the cam against the weight of the handset; GEORGE A. GRAHAM. bearings for the lever in said mounting plate; and GEORGE O. TAPPER. 

